I feel bad for her. vs I feel badly for her.

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings. 'I feel bad for her' is the more common and natural way to express sympathy or empathy. 'I feel badly for her' would mean that you are not good at feeling sorry for her, which is not the intended meaning.

Last updated: March 27, 2024 • 4848 views

I feel bad for her.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express sympathy or empathy.

This phrase is used to convey that you feel sorry or sympathetic towards someone.

Examples:

I feel bad for her situation.
I feel bad for what she's going through.
I feel bad for the loss she experienced.
I feel bad for him because of his illness.
I feel bad for the way she was treated.

Show examples from the web [+]

Max, I feel bad for her.
So now I feel bad for her.
So I feel bad for her.
I feel bad for her. That's all.
I just feel bad for her.
Poor Sandy. I feel so bad for her.
You know, I think about that gray-haired pregnant lady from school and I just feel bad for her.
And don't even get me started on Stephanie. I mean, to be honest, I just feel bad for her.
But, I mean, I still feel bad for her.
Bojan, now I feel bad for not helping her.
I just feel bad for her.
That doesn't mean I can't feel bad for her.
I get it. I just feel bad for her boyfriend.
I know, I just feel so bad for her.
And I feel so bad for her little boy.
Well, now I feel bad.
I feel bad. That's really lame of me.
No. Honey, I just - I feel bad.
- I mean, I know I feel bad.
Now I feel bad. I thought you'd be overjoyed.

Alternatives:

I sympathize with her.
I empathize with her.
I feel sorry for her.
I pity her.
My heart goes out to her.

I feel badly for her.

This phrase is technically correct but not commonly used in English. It would mean that you are not good at feeling sorry for her, which is not the intended meaning.

This phrase could be used if you want to express that you are not skilled at feeling sorry for someone, but it is not a common expression.

Show examples from the web [+]

If you must know, I feel badly for using her.
I just feel badly for her. [Alarm beeping]
All right, I feel badly.
I was wrong. I feel badly.
Of course I feel badly. I had no idea he was going to lose everything.
I just feel badly for Larry.
No, I don't feel badly.
And I feel badly about that.
The point is, and I never thought I'd say this, I actually feel badly for Kaylie.
I mean, I feel badly about Burt Peterson.
And I feel badly about it now.
She's totally moral and uptight, which made Taub feel badly about his cheating.
She's totally moral and uptight, which made Taub feel badly about his cheating.
He feels badly about what happened.
It feels like maybe I don't feel badly enough for you.
I feel, I feel really badly.
I feel badly for you, Mr. Lonza.
Duana,... I feel badly for you that you have no children.
I feel badly for you because life is like this...
I feel badly for accusing her, but she did have the most to gain.

Alternatives:

I feel bad for her.
I don't feel sorry for her.
I lack the ability to sympathize with her.
I am not good at empathizing with her.
I am not skilled at feeling sorry for her.

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I feel bad for her. vs I feel badly for her.

I feel bad for her.

I feel badly for her.

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